How does Self-driving Car work?
Self-driving cars, also known as autonomous vehicles, work by employing a combination of sensors, software algorithms, and control systems to navigate their environment without human intervention. These vehicles rely on various technologies such as Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging), radar, cameras, and GPS to perceive the surrounding environment. The information gathered from these sensors is processed by advanced computer systems that analyze data in real-time to make decisions while driving. Through this sophisticated sensing and processing system, self-driving cars can detect obstacles, interpret traffic signs, map out routes, and respond to changing road conditions.
Long answer
Self-driving cars follow a three-stage process while operating: perception of the environment, decision-making based on perception data, and executing appropriate actions.
Perception: Self-driving cars utilize a combination of sensors to gather detailed information about their surroundings. Lidar sensors emit laser pulses and measure the time they take to bounce back after hitting objects around the vehicle. This enables precise mapping of the surrounding environment in 3D space. Radar helps detect objects by emitting radio waves and measuring their reflection off nearby objects. Cameras capture visual data which is then processed using computer vision techniques to identify objects such as other vehicles, pedestrians, traffic signs or signals.
Decision-Making: The collected sensory information is fed into a powerful onboard computer that utilizes algorithms for pattern recognition and machine learning techniques to interpret and understand the environment. The software processes sensor data in real-time to make decisions about appropriate actions like accelerating, braking or steering.
Actions Execution: Once decisions are made at rapid intervals (usually multiple times per second), the car’s control system takes action accordingly by controlling acceleration/braking through electronic throttle control systems and steering using an electric power-assisted steering system.
To ensure safety during emergencies or unusual circumstances where reliable decision-making may be challenging due to complex scenarios or limited sensor input (e.g., bad weather conditions), self-driving cars often have a fallback mechanism where control can be handed back to a human driver.
Overall, self-driving cars rely on a combination of advanced sensing technologies, powerful computing systems, and intelligent decision-making algorithms to navigate their environment autonomously. Continuous advances in these areas are paving the way for the widespread adoption of this transformative technology in the future.